Darfur Peace and Development

Three Russians helicopter crew working for a private Sudanese aviation company were abducted yesterday by unknown armed assailants at approximately 16.30 hours near their accommodation in Nyala, South Darfur. The Government of the Sudan is investigating the incident.

An aid worker with the American NGO Samaritan’s Purse was released today after being held in captivity for 105 days.

UNAMID forces continue to conduct day and night patrols in and around…

30 August 2010 – UNAMID Joint Special Representative (JSR) Ibrahim Gambari today travelled to the West Darfur capital of El Geneina, accompanied by Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General / Resident Coordinator / Humanitarian Coordinator, Mr. Georg Charpentier, and the Sudan’s Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs, Dr. Mutrif Siddiq.

They met with the Wali (Governor) of West Darfur, Mr. Jafa’ar Abdul-Hakam Ishaq, representatives of the National Security Committee, the…

On 27 August, unidentified men attempted to break into UNAMID’s camp in Mellit, located approximately 65 kilometers north of El Fasher, North Darfur, but fled when an alarm was raised. A similar incident took place on 26 August at the Mission’s teamsite in Kutum, situated roughly 100 kilometers northwest of El Fasher. Security measures at all UNAMID bases have been increased.

The situation at Kalma internally displaced persons (IDP) camp…

Khartoum, 26 August 2010 – The Joint Special Representative (JSR) of the AU-UN Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), Professor Ibrahim Gambari today attended a Consultative Meeting on Darfur Peace Strategy with Sudanese Presidential Advisor, Dr. Ghazi Salahuddin Atabani; Chairman of the AU High Level Implementation Panel, Thabo Mbeki, and US Special Envoy for Sudan, Scott Gration.

The participants underlined the necessity of having a comprehensive…

A two-day consultative workshop on gender issues organized by UNAMID, concluded yesterday in Nyala, South Darfur. The occasion was used to discuss the status of the implementation of UNSCR 1325, a landmark resolution by the UN Security Council which ensures that the promotion of women’s empowerment and gender equality form a central part of efforts to implement peacekeeping mandates.

The forum, presided over by the Wali’s (Governor’s) Advisor on Women and…

UNAMID continues to conduct day and night confidence building patrols within the Kalma internally displaced person (IDP) camp.

Access continues to be granted to humanitarian NGOs for entry into Kalma by the Humanitarian Aid Commission. No new population movements within and out of the camp have been reported. Submersible pumps in the most populated parts of Kalma continue to function.

After nearly five days, fighting between the Meseriya and Rezeghat tribes reportedly…

18 August 2010 – A UNAMID mission is planned to several villages outside Kass, South Darfur, following clashes between the Rizeigat and Misseriya tribes on 16 August, in which at least 25 have been reportedly killed.

Aid groups have today been allowed into Kalma Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp, after being denied entry yesterday by local authorities citing security concerns…

17 August 2010 – Humanitarian groups were allowed access yesterday to  Kalma Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp, following more than two weeks of being denied. Urgently needed medicine and fuel has been rushed to the camp, the latter to power water pumps. UN representatives continue to mediate between rival IDP groups to resolve remaining tensions…

El Fasher, 17 August 2010 – Two Jordanian UNAMID police advisers who were abducted on Saturday 14 August in Nyala, South Darfur, have been freed today.

The peacekeepers were released in Kass, South Darfur. They were then immediately transported to the Mission’s Level III Hospital in Nyala, where they underwent a medical examination. They appeared to be unharmed and in good health, and will later be flown to Khartoum.

They were welcomed…

16 August 2010 – An investigation is still under way into the abduction of the two police advisors who serve with the joint UN-AU peacekeeping force (UNAMID), which was set up to protect civilians and quell the violence in Darfur, where nearly seven years of fighting has killed at least 300,000 people and driven 2.7 million others from their homes.

“Continued attacks on UNAMID peacekeepers and abductions and mistreatment of UN…